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Celluloid
ThrillerAction Tokyo 2000 · Japanese Cinema Splash

Battle Royale

Directed by Kinji Fukasaku · 2000 ·

Short answer

Is Battle Royale worth watching?

Yes. Battle Royale (2000) earns a 76% Celluloid Score. That puts it in our Recommended tier. Critics (88%) were notably more enthusiastic than audiences (81%). See the 4 inputs.

76%
Celluloid Score Recommended

4-input transparent breakdown

88% Editorial Rating
81% Audience snapshot · excluded
62 Metascore
★★★★☆ Letterboxd 4
7.5 IMDb /10
0
Watch Trailer
Released
Runtime
1h 54m
Age rating
R (US) · 18 (UK) · R 18+ (Australia) · R21 (Singapore) · 19 (South Korea)
Cast
Tatsuya Fujiwara , Aki Maeda , Taro Yamamoto
Streaming
Prime Video, BFI Player
Country
Japan
Language
Japanese

Also known as バトル・ロワイアル Juego sangriento [バトル・ロワイアル] Batalha Real 배틀 로얄 大逃杀 大逃殺 Ölüm Oyunu เกมนรก โรงเรียนพันธุ์โหด

🏆 2 award wins — Won Best Editing, Japan Academy Film Prize 2001

Where to watch

  • Prime Video
  • BFI Player

Rent: Amazon Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube, Fandango at Home

Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube, Fandango at Home

Where to watch Battle Royale by country

Country Streaming on
India MUBI
Japan Prime Video, Hulu, U-NEXT
South Korea Netflix, Wavve
Turkey MUBI
United States Prime Video, BFI Player

Subscription availability, refreshed from TMDB. Rental and purchase options may differ.

Why this score?

  • Celluloid's editorial rating is positive (88/100).
  • General viewers mostly liked it (81%).
  • Metascore is generally favorable (62/100).
  • Letterboxd diarists rate it highly (4/5).
  • Celluloid Score 76% combines 4 rating inputs; audience sentiment is shown separately. Consult the source notes for verification dates where recorded.

Best for

  • Viewers who want a well-regarded thriller, action pick

Not ideal for

    Scores reflect data indexed at build time. Component sources are shown on this page; Celluloid Score is our composite, not a third-party trademark. Scoring policy

    Streaming availability, artwork and title metadata courtesy of TMDB. This product uses the TMDB API but is not endorsed or certified by TMDB.

    Is Battle Royale worth watching?

    Yes — Battle Royale earns a 76% Celluloid Score. That puts it in our Recommended tier. It suits viewers who want a well-regarded thriller, action pick. Read our full review (4.5/5).

    Celluloid verdict

    Fukasaku's controversial survival thriller anticipated an entire genre of youth-vs-system narratives.

    , Founder & Editor

    Critics (88%) were notably more enthusiastic than audiences (81%).

    What is Battle Royale about?

    A dystopian government forces a class of students to kill each other on an island until only one survivor remains under martial law.

    Watch the Trailer

    Critic Reviews

    Short review 4 min read English Battle Royale

    Battle Royale (2000) Review: Class Warfare, Literally

    Battle Royale is Kinji Fukasaku's savage Japanese satire in which a school class is forced to fight to the death, a shocking thriller with a furious heart.

    Yes. It is a ferocious, blackly funny survival thriller that still outclasses its imitators, for adult viewers who can stomach graphic violence among teenagers.

    Kaiser Khan Founder & Editor

    Battle Royale stills

    Official production imagery supplied through TMDB, kept with the movie instead of split into a thin gallery page.

    Battle Royale production still 1
    Battle Royale production still 2
    Battle Royale production still 3
    Battle Royale production still 4
    Battle Royale production still 5
    Battle Royale production still 6

    Images courtesy of TMDB. TMDB does not endorse or certify Celluloid.

    Reader takes

    No reader takes published yet. Send yours and we may publish it after editing.

    Battle Royale: frequently asked questions

    Is Battle Royale worth watching?

    Yes. Battle Royale (2000) has a Celluloid Score of 76%, averaged from the available Celluloid editorial, Metascore, Letterboxd and IMDb ratings. That puts it in our Recommended tier. Audience sentiment is shown separately and does not change the score.

    Where can I watch Battle Royale?

    In the United States, Battle Royale streams on Prime Video, BFI Player with a subscription, and you can rent it from Amazon Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube or buy it from Amazon Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube. Elsewhere: MUBI in India; Prime Video, Hulu, U-NEXT in Japan; Netflix, Wavve in South Korea; MUBI in Turkey. Availability changes; the where-to-watch table on this page is refreshed from TMDB.

    How long is Battle Royale?

    Battle Royale runs 1 hour 54 minutes (114 minutes).

    What is Battle Royale rated?

    Battle Royale is rated R in the United States, 18 in the UK, R 18+ in Australia, R21 in Singapore and 19 in South Korea. These are the official classifications as recorded on TMDB; check your local classification board for content advice.

    Who stars in Battle Royale?

    Battle Royale is directed by Kinji Fukasaku and stars Tatsuya Fujiwara, Aki Maeda, Taro Yamamoto.

    What is the Metascore for Battle Royale?

    Metacritic's Metascore for Battle Royale is 62 out of 100. It is one of the inputs to the Celluloid Score.

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